Sights & Sounds – April 2
The Pittsburgh Symphony is looking for four canine “musicians” and their handlers to participate in its annual free Point State Park concert on June 9.
As part of the concert, the symphony will perform Leopold Mozart’s “Jadg-Sinfonie,” a piece that calls for barking dogs to collaborate with the horn soloists.
Visit pittsburghsymphony.org/dogauditions to fill out an online application form and submit a link to a Youtube video demonstrating that your furry friend can sit, stay, bark and be silent on command.
Deadline for submission is April 16. Notification of those chosen for the final audition will be made via email on April 30. Final live auditions will occur on May 13 at Heinz Hall.
Following the final audition, four dogs will be selected to perform with the symphony on June 9.
The entertainment line-up at The Meadows Racetrack & Casino will be performed in the newly renovated and renamed venue Headliners (formerly Silks Lounge) starting April 3. All shows are free.
• Headliners: Bobby Pinson and Trent Tomlinson (Nashville Acts – Acoustic), 7 p.m. April 3; Finally Free (classic rock), 8 p.m. April 4; Jerry Don O’Neal (Nashville band), 8 p.m. April 5.
• Pacers Lounge: “Flashback Fridays” with DJ AJ Fresh (tunes and music videos from the ’70s, ’80s & ’90s), 9 p.m.; “Saturday Dance Night” with DJ AJ Fresh (music and video mix dance party), 9 p.m.
The St. Andrew’s Society of Pittsburgh will host a Tartan Day Celebration 10 a.m.-5 p.m. April 5 at Bethel Presbyterian Church, Bethel Park, featuring bagpipers, highland and country dancing, Celtic music, Scottish clans, workshops, Scottish food, vendor’s selling Celtic goods, raffles, children’s activities and more.
Free admission and parking. Proceeds will benefit the Tartan Day Scholarship Fund, which provides assistance for students of the Scottish Arts.
The Andrew Carnegie Free Library & Music Hall’s annual Civil War Living History Day takes place 10 a.m.-5 p.m. April 5. Programming focuses on the aftermath of Gettysburg the Battle of the Crater and includes ongoing tours of the Post, special exhibits, a keynote speaker, re-enactors encampment and drills, Civil War authors, tours of Chartiers Cemetery and a concert by the Almost Famous blue grass band. For more information, visit www.carnegiecarnegie.com or call 412-276-3456.
Pittsburgh Area Theatre Organ Society will present Dave Wickerham at the Mighty Wurlitzer Pipe Organ at 2 p.m. April 5. “Good-vye Winter – Welcome Spring” will be held at Keystone Oaks High School. Advance-purchased tickets are $15. Call 412-241-8108. Tickets at the door are $20. Students and children are free with adult admission.
The Pittsburgh Civic Orchestra will continue its theme of “Travel the World in Music” with a celebration of Austrian music at 7:30 p.m. April 5 at the Upper St. Clair High School Theater.
Dancers from the Ballet Academy of Pittsburgh will peform Emperor Waltz by Johann Strauss II. Student dancers from the South Hills-based classical ballet school include Brenna Erzen, 17, a senior at Bethel Park High School; Kara Gisleson, 16, a sophomore at Upper St. Clair High School; Anna Grunewald, 17, a junior at Mt. Lebanon High School; and Deanna Klimas, 18, a senior at Upper St. Clair High School. In addition, winners of the Young Artist Competition will perform.
Tickets at $15/adults, $10/seniors and $5/students age 13 and older can be purchased at the door. Children 12 and under are free. For more information, call 412-279-4030 or visit www.pittsburghcivicorchestra.net.
Hollywood Theater in Dormont announces upcoming shows in April:
• “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial,” 7:30 p.m. April 3 and again as the Family Movie Matinee at 3 p.m. April 5 and 6. All seats are $5 for the family matinees. Final appearance, 7:30 p.m. April 9.
• “Cheap Thrills,” a new dark comedy, 7:30 and 10 p.m. April 4; 10:30 p.m. April 5; 7 p.m. April 6.
• “Enemy,” a new thriller starring Jake Gyllenhaal, 7:30 p.m. April 10; 10 p.m. April 11; 9:30 p.m. April 12; 7 p.m. April 13; 7:30 p.m. April 17.
• “Reefer Madness,” presented by the Junior Chamber of Commerce Players, at midnight April 12. Tickets at www.showclix.com/event/ReeferMadness2014.
• The Films of David Lynch series, “The Straight Story” (1999), 4 and 7 p.m. April 12 and 4 p.m. April 13. This film will be shown in 35 mm. The 4 p.m. Saturday show is $5 all seats.
• Breakfast and a Movie, the 1948 musical romance “Easter Parade,” 11 a.m. April 13, light breakfast, cartoons, door prizes and a Best Easter Hat contest with a prize. Tickets are $15 nonmembers; $13 members. Purchase breakfast tickets at the theater by April 10 or at www.showclix.com/event/breakfastandamoviemarch2014. Tickets for the movie only, which starts at 11:30, are $8 at door.
Special rental events in April are:
• Free premiere screening of the short film “Lemonade,” 7 p.m. April 5.
• “Perfect Sisters,” a drama/horror flick, at 7:30 p.m. April 11.
Schedules are subject to change. Call the theater at 412-563-0368 or check the Hollywood’s Facebook page (www.facebook.com/HollywoodTheaterDormont) and website (www.thehollywooddormont.org) for updates. Unless noted, admission is $8/adults; $6/children under 12 and seniors. The Hollywood Theater is available to rent for parties and special events. For more information, call 412-563-0368.
Valid student ID (high school or college) is now accepted for $6 discounted admission.
One of the most beloved children’s book series “Little Golden Books,” is coming to the ToonSeum April 11. The exhibit, “Golden Legacy: Original Art from 65 Years of Golden Books,” is the largest collection of original illustration art from the series.
The exhibit, which runs through June 30, will feature more than 60 illustrated drawings from the Random House’s archives (1942-2007).
The Carnegie Performing Arts Center will present the children’s classic “Alice in Wonderland” April 11-13 at the Andrew Carnegie Music Hall on Beechwood Avenue.
Directed by Monica Ryan, the cast includes Natalie Zinski of Carnegie as Alice and Danielle Buttlar of Mt. Lebanon as the White Rabbit.
Performances will take place at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday.
Tickets are $15 for adults and $12 for students and seniors and are available at the door. Group rates are available for scout, senior and church groups. For information, call 412-279-8887 or visit www.carnegieperformingartscenter.com
The Washington Wild Things has asked Pohl Productions to audition and select the National Anthem singers for its upcoming season. Open auditions will be held from 10 a.m.-noon April 12 at Consol Energy Park for both individuals and groups.
Appointments are not required, but those with appointments will be given priority. All applicants should bring a recent photo. Those who have resumes should bring them as well.
Those auditioning will be asked to sing the traditional version of The National Anthem in a respectful manner with absolutely minimal styling. To register, call Pohl Productions at 724-746-1178.
Renaissance & Baroque and The Pittsburgh Camerata join together to celebrate a season of beautiful music by hosting Downton/Dahntahn Abbey, a fundraising event to satisfy elegant and informal tastes, from 4-6:30 p.m. April 13 at the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts, Shadyside. (This event was rescheduled from March 2.)
Downton/Dahntahn Abbey will offer two events in one. Guests can mingle upstairs where wine and elegant savories will be served, and then wander downstairs/dahntahn to enjoy beer and snacks, Pittsburgh style.
Attendees are invited to dress in 1920s vintage clothing for either upstairs or downstairs. There will be a silent auction on both levels and musical entertainment provided by members of the Camerata and R&B musicians.
Reservations can be made in advance for $50 Guest Level or $75 Patron Level. Reservations at the door on the day of the event are $60.
For more information, visit www.rbsp.org or call 412-361-2048.
The Heritage Players will offer an eight-week program of acting classes beginning the week of April 14 at the Seton Center for ages 5-7, 8-10, 11-14, 15-17 and 18-Adult. Students will perform a skit in a recital at the end of the course. For more information, to purchase tickets to “Hay Fever,” to schedule an audition, or to register for classes, visit www.heritageplayers.org or call 412-254-4633. Tickets will also be sold at the door.